• Check carefully for ticks upon returning home after spending time outdoors. Usually deer ticks spend two hours crawling on your body and looking for the best spot to bite.

• Check carefully for ticks on your dogs and cats if they are allowed outside.

• Control ticks around your home and in your community.

• Ask your doctor if taking antibiotics after tick bite is right for you.

• Learn the early signs of tick-borne illness.

A Lyme disease vaccine is no longer available. The vaccine manufacturer discontinued production in 2002, citing insufficient consumer demand. Protection provided by this vaccine diminishes over time. Therefore, if you received the Lyme disease vaccine before 2002, you are probably no longer protected against Lyme disease.